Sydonie: Parents differ in their beliefs about the rules to which thei

Question

Sydonie: Parents differ in their beliefs about the rules to which their children should be subject. So any disciplinary structure in schools is bound to create resentment because it will contradict some parental approaches to raising children.

Stephanie: Your conclusion is incorrect; educational research shows that when parents list the things that they most want their children’s schools to provide, good discipline is always high on the list.

Stephanie’s argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that

(A) it focuses on educational research rather than educational practice
(B) it addresses a more general issue than that addressed in Sydonie’s argument
(C) it does not counter Sydonie’s suggestion that parents have diverse ideas of what constitutes good discipline
(D) the phrase “high on the list” is not specific enough to give useful information about what parents desire from a school
(E) it fails to discuss educators’ attitudes toward discipline in schools

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

EXPLANATION FROM Fox LSAT

I disagree with Syd, because I don’t think that  any  (i.e.  every ) disciplinary structure is bound to create resentment. What about a disciplinary structure that took into account parents’ differing beliefs? And I also disagree with Steph, because the fact that parents care about good discipline doesn’t mean they will  agree with each other  about what “good discipline” means. So I disagree with both speakers, which is  good , because it means that I understand their arguments. This is going to be a piece of cake.

We’re asked to criticize Steph’s argument, which I have already done. Steph can suck it because, as I stated above, the fact that parents care about discipline doesn’t mean they will  agree with each other  about what ‘good discipline’ means. The correct answer will probably say that in slightly different words. But that, my friends, is in essence gonna be the correct answer. Watch:

A) I don’t even know what this means. No way.

B) Definitely not what I’m looking for. We have such a strong prediction here that we are not going to waste time on bullshit. Next, please.

C) Yep. Steph totally ignored the part of Syd’s argument where Syd said “parents differ in their beliefs.” That was dumb of Steph, and that matches our prediction, and that’s why this is going to be the correct answer.

D) Nah. Lack of specificity, like failure to define a term, is almost never the correct answer. You don’t have to have a perfect definition or be perfectly specific at all times. If you did, your argument would always be encyclopedic in length. We’ve already found C, so this isn’t going to be it.

E) Who gives a **** what educators think? Their opinions are simply irrelevant here, since the arguments were about what parents think. This is out.

Our answer is C.

winterschool · Answer

Sydonie: Parents differ in their beliefs about the rules to which their children should be subject. So any disciplinary structure in schools is bound to create resentment because it will contradict some parental approaches to raising children.

Stephanie: Your conclusion is incorrect; educational research shows that when parents list the things that they most want their children’s schools to provide, good discipline is always high on the list.

Stephanie’s argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that

(A) it focuses on educational research rather than educational practice  Incorrect

not true

(B)  it addresses a more general issue than that addressed in Sydonie’s argument   Correct

Stephanie addresses a more general issue such as good discipline whereas Sydonie addresses no specific issues; there can be any issue that can contradict with school disciplinary structure

(C) it does not counter Sydonie’s suggestion that parents have diverse ideas of what constitutes good discipline  Incorrect

this is true but that cant be a reason

(D) the phrase “high on the list” is not specific enough to give useful information about what parents desire from a school  Incorrect

cant be a reason, Stephanie already specified a reason

(E) it fails to discuss educators’ attitudes toward discipline in schools  Incorrect

irrelevant

unraveled · Answer

Sydonie: Parents differ in their beliefs about the rules to which their children should be subject. So any disciplinary structure in schools is bound to create resentment because it will contradict some parental approaches to raising children.

Stephanie: Your conclusion is incorrect; educational research shows that when parents list the things that they most want their children’s schools to provide,  good discipline  is always high on the list.

Stephanie’s argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that

Stephanie seems to suggest that 'Good discipline' is what most parents commonly look for in schools structure. But as one reads the passage it is evident that one may think what is 'good discipline'. True that it might on the top of the list but what makes discipline a 'good discipline'.

(A) it focuses on educational research rather  than  educational practice - WRONG. No such comparison is suggested in the passage.
(B) it addresses a more  general issue  than that addressed in Sydonie’s argument - WRONG. It is opposite possibly as Sydonie talks in general.
(C) it does not counter Sydonie’s suggestion that parents have diverse ideas of what constitutes good discipline - CORRECT. Exactly what one thinks of.
(D) the phrase “high on the list” is not specific enough to give useful information about what parents desire from a school - WRONG. More of a diversion. 
(E) it fails to discuss educators’ attitudes toward discipline in schools - WRONG. Irrelevant.

Answer C.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Sydonie: Parents differ in their beliefs about the rules to which thei

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